Akalanka creates history by winning silver in 400m hurdles

Sri Lanka Athletic team for the Commonwealth Youth Games with officials: Back row from left: Kasuni Wickramasinghe, Lesandu Arthavidu, Ayomal Akalanka, Nilupul Thejana, Shalani Hansika Munasinghe. seated from left: Anura Bandara (coach), SLA President Major General Palitha Fernando, SLC Secretary Saman Kumara Gunawardena and Lady Chaperon Nadeepa Warnasuriya.

Ayomal Akalanka of Ambagamuwa Central created history when he clinched a silver medal in boys 400m hurdles event while Dikwella Central high jumper Nilupul Thejana won high jump bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games held in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday.

This was a very good achievement by Sri Lankan youth athletes where three boys and two girls competed at this Commonwealth Youth Games with lot of obstructions before the tour. Ayomal Akalanka who finished in second place with a time of 51.16 seconds gave a good fight to world ranking one athlete Wright Dza of Jamaica(51.51 seconds) and both of them had a keen tussle to finish the 400m hurdle final.

The coach of Ayomal Akalanka Anura Bandara said this is excellent performance by young Akalanka while as a coach he was disappointed as he missed this tour due to a visa refusal from USA Embassy. Actually I was the tour manager and coach appointed by Sri Lanka Athletics but last moment my visa was rejected and couldn’t go on this tour and same thing happened to Lady Chaperon of the Athletic team. If I was able go with the team Ayomal had a good chance to win gold medal but in my capacity I did everything from home and everyday i contacted Ayomal and other athletes through my mobile phone. No one was present for athletes technical committee meeting at Commonwealth Games but finally I had to chat with team chef de Mission Sarath Kooragama and one official of Beach Volleyball (Ravihara) and they did the needful

Before the final of 400m hurdle Ayomal had a muscle injury but our team masseur also did not get a visa and no one was there. But one former Sri Lanka official Anula Costa was there with the Australian coach and I contacted her and finally she arranged a physiotherapist from Trinidad and Tobago to treat Ayomal. This was a very sad occasion but my athlete Ayomal did his best to take a silver medal said coach Anura Bandara who was also former Sri Lankan Asian medalist Sugath Tillekaratna’s coach.

Meanwhile Nilupul Thejana of Dikwella Vijitha Central took High Jump bronze medal with a leap of 2.00m. Salani Hansika Munasinghe of Ambagamuwa Central did her personal best to finish in 4 th place in girls 400m hurdles and her performance was one minute and 03.44 seconds. D.S Senanayake College Colombo athlete Lesandu Arthavidu with 1.95m also finished in fourth place in high jump event while Ambagamuwa Central athlete Shalani Hansika Munasinghe once again finished in 8 th place in the-long jump with a leap of 5.65m ( her 2nd career best personal best 5.68m).

Kasuni Wickramasinghe of Gampola Wickramashila National School finished eighth in 800m (2:20.52) in the heats and overall Sri Lanka athletes performances was high compared to the other sports athletes said coach Anura Bandara.

I think coaches do very efficient duty for athletes to take medals but very sad finally coaches got very bad treatment and this had to change. This Commonwealth Youth team confirmation got on last April but due to battle between the National Olympic Committee and the Sports Ministry we couldn’t get ready until the last minute. One of the senior official of NOC clearly said they can’t do anything about our team visa and all players and coaches were disappointed that time but finally new Sports Director General Dr Shemal Fernando and Ministry officials work hard to get visa and other matters otherwise out athletes also not get chance to take part this tour added coach Anura Bandara.